Climate change concern on the rise: survey

Public concern about climate change is on the rise, with a strong belief the federal government should be showing leadership in reducing emissions.

An annual poll from the Lowy Institute shows 45 per cent of Australians believe global warming is a serious problem that requires an immediate response, even if it is expensive.

The survey's release on Wednesday comes a day after the US, the world's second-largest emitter, announced an ambitious plan to slash power plant emissions by 30 per cent by 2030.

Around 40 per cent of the 1000 people surveyed in the Lowy poll said gradual steps should be taken to address global warming, while 15 per cent thought nothing should be done until it becomes clear climate change is a real problem.

It is the second year running the prominent think-tank has detected an increase in public concern on the climate change issue, and the rise follows five years of steady decline.

The figure is still nowhere near the high recorded in 2006, when nearly three-quarters of those surveyed agreed climate change was a pressing issue that needed an urgent response.

A significant majority also thought the government should be taking the lead on driving down emissions, with less than one-third wanting to wait to see what action the world takes.